2.085 Procedure for Filling Certain Vacancies.
(1) Before filling a vacancy in an elective office, the Council shall:
(a) Cause a notice of the vacancy to be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in the newspaper published in the city that has the largest local circulation. The notice shall indicate the vacant position and state the deadline for submitting a written application for the position, which shall not be less than 30 days after first publication. The City may supplement this notice through other means, including but not limited to social media or the City’s website.
(b) Prescribe a form of application to be used by all applicants and a form of nominating petition to be signed by 25 electors of the applicant’s ward. Until the Council directs otherwise by motion or resolution, the existing form of "Candidate Information Sheet" (CMO/101) may be used by applicants.
(c) Appoint a committee of five citizens from the applicants’ ward to interview all applicants and make recommendations to the Council as to who is most qualified to represent the ward with the vacancy.
(d) Offer all eligible persons who submitted an application and a nominating petition signed by 25 electors of his or her ward before the deadline an opportunity to appear before both the citizen’s committee and the Council for interviews.
(2) No one shall be selected to fill a vacancy in elected office unless that person applied in writing, presented a nominating petition signed by 25 electors of his or her ward and appeared in person before both the citizens committee and the Council for interviews. If the Council is not satisfied with the field of applicants, it may repeat the process as many times as it deems necessary. Once an applicant has submitted an application and has been interviewed, it is not necessary to submit a new application or appear for another interview for the same position, unless specifically requested by the Council to do so.
(3) The procedures listed in this section shall not commence until after the Councilmember has actually vacated his or her position on Council. As used in this section, "vacancy" refers to an actual vacancy where a Councilmember has already ceased his or her role as a Councilmember, and not a declared intent to vacate the position in the future.
(4) The procedures for filling the Council vacancy prescribed by this section shall not be temporarily suspended. Notwithstanding this prohibition, the procedures for forming a citizens’ committee described in subsection (1)(c) of this section may be suspended if the actual vacancy occurs less than 120 days prior to an election where the vacant seat will be filled, in which case the procedures regarding the citizens’ committee may be suspended upon a vote of the majority of Councilmembers present. This vote may take place before or after the actual vacancy, but if it occurs before the actual vacancy, the vacating member shall recuse himself or herself from that vote.
(5) The procedures as set forth will commence within 45 days of the vacancy and shall not thereafter be unreasonably delayed.